SOMALIA: AU peacekeepers and Somali government troops capture al-Shabaab militia training camp.

Record ID: 346600

  • Title: SOMALIA: AU peacekeepers and Somali government troops capture al-Shabaab militia training camp.
  • Date: 14th July 2012
  • Summary: AL-SHABAAB BODIES LYING ON THE GROUND AMISOM BULLDOZER BURYING BODIES IN MASS GRAVE
  • Embargoed: 29th July 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Somalia
  • Country: Somalia
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVADY3Y86TQVNNUUYC6ZK7H2UBJU
  • Story Text: Africa Union Mission in Somalia and Transitional Federal Government troops capture Lanta Buro village, home to a major al-Shabaab training camp.
    Somali troops with the support of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) on Wednesday (July 12) launched an operation that led to the capture of Lanta Buro village, the site of a major al-Shabaab training camp.
    Lanta Buro, 40 kilometres west of Mogadishu, housed political prisoners during President Siad Barre's regime but has since been converted into a major terrorist training camp by the al-Qaeda affiliated al-Shabaab.
    The move to take the camp comes at a critical time for the capital as it prepares to host a National Constituent Assembly which will adopt a provisional constitution and end transitional government.

    "I am the commander of the 59 battalion of UPDF AMISOM troops. We are in Lanta Buro. We took over Lanta Buro on the 10th of this month, and we killed 11 of them [Shabaab] and captured seven guns," said AMISOM Commander Eriazali Okolowe. "Lanta Buro has been a very important area for al-Shabaab because it is a junction where they will coordinate activities towards (indistinct), Afgooye and Lafoole and Marka itself."
    Since the U.N. Security Council boosted AMISOM troop numbers to over 17,000, the force has been expanding outside Mogadishu and has helped the Somali government secure major strategic towns across the country including Afgooye, on the Shabelle river; Afmadow, the second largest city in the southern region of lower Jubba, and most recently Balaad to the north of the capital.
    Additionally, AMISOM troops are present in Baidoa, the capital of the bay region, and Beletweyne in the northern region of Hiiran.
    ENDS
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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